Te Atatu Patelesio

Actor

Te Atatu Patelesio is an emerging artist of Māori, Cook Island, Tokelauan, and Samoan descent. He has a deep passion and commitment to Indigenous and Pasifika storytelling.

A recent graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, Te Atatu has performed in multiple seasons of The Battalion with Te Rākau Theatre Company and recently played a lead role in The Undertow: Dog & Bone. This year he will make his professional screen debut in the Tokelauan short film Where the Fetū Once Lived, written and directed by Taofia Pelesasa.

A developing writer and director, he co-created Below The Worms for the 2025 New Zealand Fringe Festival, receiving the Fringe Parkin Development Award and a nomination for the Emerging Pasifika Artist Award.

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Hair Colour
Brown
Location
Wellington | Pōneke
Age Range
18 - 28

Ethnicity
Māori, Cook Island Māori, Tokelauan, Samoan
Height
178cm
Eye Colour
Brown

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Full CV

• Credits

  Short Film
  2026 - Where the Fetū Once Lived – Bennet – Director - Taofia Pelesasa - Pelesasa Pics
  2025 - Yes David – Joe #1 - Director - Ghazelah Gol - Toi Whakaari
  
  Theatre
  2025 - The Haka Party Incident - Hone Harawira/Te Rangihīroa - Jason Te Kare - Toi Whakaari
  2025 - Below the Worms - Boy/Koro/Dad - Fringe Festival
  2024 - Toe Fai! - Hio - Director - Emele Ugavule
  2024 - Passion Planet - Sam - Director - Emele Ugavule - Toi Whakaari
  2024 - The Undertow: The Ragged - Ensemble - Director - Regan Taylor - Toi Whakaari
  2024 - The Undertow: Dog & Bone - Kurītea – Jamie McCaskill - Toi Whakaari
  2023 - Where the Manu Land - Manu – Batanai Mashingaidze - Toi Whakaari
  2023 - August: Osage County - Steve Heiderbrecht - Erina Daniels - Toi Whakaari
  2022 - The Battalion - Anaru Kingi - Jim Moriarty - Te Rākau Theatre
  
  Dance/Movement
  2025 - Empty the Clip – Performer – Director - Justice Kalolo - New Zealand Fringe Festival
  2022 - Te Tumu – Performer - Director - Te Hau Winitana - Le Moana
  2018 - Kupega Affect - Performer - Director - Selina Alefosio - Le Moana

• Training

  2023 - 2025 - Bachelor of Performing Arts – Toi Whakaari/New Zealand Drama School

• Skills

  Accents - American, Australian, British
  Pacific Island Dance
  Kapa Haka
  Ura Kuki Airani
  Siva Samoa
  Hiva Tokelau
  Martial Arts - Karate